Only 18, they juggle school and music career

WHEN these teens are not busy with their school work, they may be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Asian Idol Hady Mirza.
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Local hip-hop group Sleeq made news when a song they wrote, Pilihla Aku (Choose Me), became a hit on a Malay radio station. Picture: CHONG JUN LIANG

The toothy twosome who form the hip-hop duo Sleeq, Ahmad Syarifullah and Alif Abdullah, are only 18, but they are juggling music careers and celebrity life.

They got together in 2005, and picked up the Most Popular Local Artiste (Singapore) award at the Anugerah Planet Muzik awards last June. The awards honour music industry players from Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Fellow winners in the same category? The likes of Singapore Idol winners Hady Mirza and Taufik Batisah.

The duo will be performing at the Temasek Polytechnic and The New Paper’s Beyond O-Level Seminar 2008.

The duo from Temasek Polytechnic said attending the music awards was quite an experience.

Syarifullah, a first-year communication and media management student said: 'It was crazy. We met people like Kris Dayanti, Siti Nurhaliza and Malaysian Idol Jacqueline Victor.'

Alif, his cousin and music partner, added: 'It was surreal, we didn’t think we would win at all, so it was a blast.'

MALAY HIT

They made the news when a song they wrote, Pilihlah Aku (Choose Me), became a hit on a Malay radio station.

They have released nine songs since June and have had an English track, Almost But, playing on local airwaves.

Next up for them?

Releasing their first full album, Classiq, within the first quarter of this year.

While achieving music success is clearly on their agenda, their number one priority remains completing their studies at the polytechnic.

Said Alif, who is into his second year in a diploma course in product industrial design: 'No matter what, education for us comes first. That’s something both our families feel strongly about.'

Syarifullah hopes to pursue a university degree in media marketing, while Alif intends to obtain a degree in mass communications.

FIFTH SHOW

They have done four shows at their polytechnic so far, and the performance at the Beyond O–Level Seminar on 12 Jan will be their fifth.

It’s an experience they’re both looking forward to.

Alif said: 'We hope to attract these prospective students to TP, we would like to show them that we managed to combine both music and school.'

Not sure what to do after O levels?

CHECK out Temasek Polytechnic (TP) and The New Paper's Beyond O-Level Seminar 2008 for ideas on what to do after your exams.

The seminar provides a first-hand insight into polytechnic life, with students sharing their experiences. There will also be talks on how diplomas can open doors for you and performances by TP students, including award-winning hip-hop duo Sleeq.

Participants stand to win exclusive Sleeq music hampers and iPods.

FYI

WHAT: Temasek Convention Centre, Temasek Polytechnic

WHEN: Saturday, 12 Jan, 10am to 1pm

FOR: Students waiting for their O-level results, ITE graduates, and parents

ENQUIRIES: Call 6780 6556, 6780 5017, 6780 5024

For more info, go to www.tp.edu.sg or tp4me.blogspot.com